Browse Historical Events by Day: What Happened on February 22nd?

Byzantine Emperor Heraclius issues the Ecthesis, an attempt to reconcile monophysite Christians with the Chalcedonian Church.

Death of Romanos III Argyros, Byzantine Emperor, possibly murdered by his wife Zoe.

Construction of Rochester Castle in England begins.

Antipope Anacletus II crowns Roger II of Sicily as King of Sicily.

The Papal bull "Ad abolendam" is issued by Pope Innocent III, sanctioning the Albigensian Crusade against the Cathars.

Pope Innocent V becomes the head of the Catholic Church.

Scottish independence leader William Wallace is captured by English forces near Glasgow.

The Hongxi Emperor ascends to the throne of China following the death of his father, the Yongle Emperor.

Johannes Gutenberg prints the first book, the Gutenberg Bible, using movable type in Mainz, Germany.

The first president of the United States, George Washington, is born in Westmoreland County, Virginia.

War of the Austrian Succession: The French fleet bombards Plymouth, England.

Spain cedes Florida to the United States via the Adams–Onís Treaty whereby Spain ceded East Florida to the United States and renounced all claim to West Florida. Spain received no direct compensation, but the United States agreed to assume liability for $5 million in damage done by American citizens who rebelled against Spain. The Treaty (also called the Transcontinental Treaty and ratified in 1821) also defined the western limits of the Louisiana Purchase and Spain surrendered its claims to the Pacific Northwest. In return, the United States recognized Spanish sovereignty over Texas.

The Pennsylvania State University is founded as the Farmers' High School of Pennsylvania.

The first NAVSTAR satellite, Navstar 1, was launched. The U.S. Department of Defense previously launched the first experimental Block-I GPS satellite in February, 1977, which later also became part of the NAVSTAR GPS (Navigation Digital Timing and Ranging Global Positioning System.

1980, February 22 - The United States Olympic hockey team pulls off the "Miracle on Ice," defeating the Soviet team during the Winter Olympics in Lake Placid.